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Dordt College Men's Basketball vs. GPAC Finals-Morningside

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(Sioux City, Iowa) The Dordt College Defender men's basketball team lost a 71-62 decision at the hands of the Morningside Mustangs in Great Plains Athletic Conference post-season tournament championship in Sioux City, Iowa on Tuesday night.

The Defenders took the early lead at 10-2 on a layup by Jim Brinks with five minutes gone in the game. Morningside cut the lead to 16-13 eventually but the Defenders held Morningside scoreless for 7:15 while building a 26-13 advantage. The Defenders managed a 30-17 lead at halftime, limiting Morningside to 5-23 shooting from the floor.

The second half started innocently enough for the Defenders with Scott Van Zanten making it 34-22 with 15:21 left in the game. The Defenders wouldn't score another point until the 8:29 mark when Derek Keizer made it 40-36, snapping the Mustangs 18-0 run. During that stretch the Defenders turned the ball over 10 times. Dordt was never able to get closer than eight the rest of the way, losing to Morningside for the first time this season.

Dordt was topped by Luke Ruter and Mark Rowenhorst with 12 points each. Scott Van Zanten and Brandon Haan both had nine points and Derek Keizer had eight points, five assists and four steals. Van Zanten and Jim Brinks had seven rebounds a piece as Dordt held a 43-32 board edge.

Morningside was led by Brad Schmit and Matt Johnson with 14 points each and Tim Johnson had nine rebounds.